14 - Farran's Long Awaited Post

                                        

                                              
It had been just over a month since Farran had boldly written to both the Diplomatic Bureau, and Duke Dorland of Cador, and she had tried not to be impatient as she awaited any kind of response back. She had a small distraction while helping Winnie pack and set out of her own adventure, so happy for her elder sister's triumph. Although hitting the hotter territories at the cross over from spring to summer wouldn't be the most pleasant of experiences, Farran enjoyed going places so much she'd have been thrilled to endure it; Winnie was a little more artistic than Farran was though, and might struggle with it. 
Still, she had helped her sister pack the most suitable clothes for both the purpose of the trip and the temperature she'd endure. Given that Winnie was almost an adult, and on a trip to impress at the university, Farran had made a few subtle but suitable alterations to her sister's dresses. She stitched sleeves as short as possible, lowered the neckline where she could, and ensured that even the hottest, dirtiest weather wouldn't stain Winnie's precious white clothes. Although Winnie was the tallest of the Briggs sisters, she was also the only one interested in wearing that much white; the irony being that she was the painter and the only person more likely to stain her clothes would be Hida. Blair was the shortest and most voluptuous sister, preferring to layer over her body to try and disguise it while also preferring the Briggs scarlet to feature prominently. Farran couldn't wear Blair's clothes, too tall and lacking the more womanly attributes Blair hid, but she did often take from Winnie's wardrobe if it wasn't pristine white. She'd also take some of her brothers' discarded clothing items, turning more than one men's coat or jacket into a unique outfit for herself. Hida wore everyone's old clothes, or chose her training uniform if allowed, and with her reddish hair the Briggs scarlet only cemented her torment of being called Pinky. 
Farran's other constant distraction was trying to sneakily ready the supplies she would need once she could head out. She'd found one of mother's old Expedition bags, and claimed it for herself; patching the worn strap with ease. Because she wanted this to last as long as it could, Farran made every stitch count, imbuing the bag with as much rugged durability as possible. The size of the bag also gave he the constraint she had to work within; she would allow herself the Expedition bag and one trunk for all the things she'd take with her on her adventure. She'd begun researching the weather and customs of Cador, having learned that Cador had the heat of the South but also an absurd amount of humidity. The clothes she selected were as lightweight as possible, and Farran tried to pick items she could easily alter in Cador to suit her environment more as needed. She also packed far more of her embroidery than was probably practical, but given her magic it seemed smart.
Besides clothes and entertainment, Farran also made a point to pack the 'survival essentials' their parents had raised them to consider. A carefully packed and sealed fire starter kit, a securely preserved healing set including bandages and a sterilized needle for stitches, and what her father called a whistle. Since she wouldn't be on a ship Farran didn't have to worry about seasickness, and she found long carriage rides almost meditative; she could do needle work or knit except on the worse roads. All the Briggs siblings could ride horseback, Farran enjoyed a steady mare while she knew Hida liked the wild ones, but unless she could carry a trunk on horseback like her father could with food, she had to take a carriage for the Expedition. And even though this was supposed to be an endeavour between two peacefully allied Nations, Farran was realistic enough to also pack the pistol and shot her parents insisted they all learn to use for self defence. 
Since the weapons, especially black powder, were so prohibitively expensive most people didn't expect them, let alone expect one on a girl Farran's age. She'd had the same basic combat training as her siblings, a necessity in a world where kidnappings could occur, but as her little tussle with Hida had shown, she'd be outmatched by any skilled fighter. Thus the pistol, a beautiful revolver dubbed the Big No by the gunsmith that the Briggs family did business with. Farran was a decent shot, not the dead-eye Hida had proven to be, but not missing the broad side of the barn like Winnie would. And true to form, their parents insisted that they not only know how to shoot it, but how to take care of it and load shot if the equipment is available.